A Brother Asks: Why Is Excluding Women Legitimate?

A Brother Asks: Is there any legitimate reason why women aren't allowed to be Freemasons, or does it just stem from the acting troupe rules of the 16th century?Coach: Before I respond to your question, let me point out the not so obvious.

Brother: Okay. Go ahead.Coach: Females are allowed to be Freemasons; just not “male” Freemasons. And the reason why they are not allowed to be “male” Freemasons is that they are not male.

Brother: Okay. Yes. I’ve heard of Co-Freemasonry, and women's lodges and the like. Coach: Okay, and you believe they are not Freemasonic?

Brother: I am talking about the rules governing all "regular" lodges.Coach: And these female Freemasons and their lodges are Regular my Brother.

Brother: They can’t be!Coach: I disagree. They sure can.

Brother: Okay, how so?Coach: Regularity is set by the governing Grand Lodge of a jurisdiction.

Brother: Okay...Coach: Since these Female centric Lodges are deemed Regular by their Female centric Grand Lodge, they are indeed Regular to it. They are simply not considered Regular to Male centric Freemasonry.
Brother: Well, yes. That's not what I meant.Coach: Then what did you mean?

Brother: I meant to say they're not Recognized Freemasons and Freemasonic Lodges.

Finalizing the Question

Coach: Yes. Thanks. They are not Recognized by Male centric Lodges. They are Recognized within their own network of lodges though. Brother: Okay, I'm trying to get to a point. I'm having a difficult time finding the right words.

Coach: Finding the right words is important.Brother: Agreed. What do you think I'm trying to ask?

Coach: Okay. Thanks. I believe you’ll find that every last response that you get from anyone trying to answer this question will be either made up or offered as an excuse. It won't be the obvious one that provides the underlying reason.Brother: What’s that obvious reason?

To us, UGLE recognition is paramount however to non-Masons it means nothing. A woman asked me if she could be a Mason. I said 'Sure, there are avenues for that but it's considered irregular.' I added 'The United Grand Lodge of England does not recognize them as regular, "legit" Masons'. She said "Who the hell cares what the United Grand Lodge of England thinks?" I thought, as a non-Mason, she's right.

Agree with what others have said. Freemasonry is a fraternity. It is a brotherhood. It doesn't "exclude women" in order to be unfair to them, discriminate against them, etc.; rather, its essence is to be a men's organization. To put it another way: the purpose of the American Kennel Club is to promote the proper and humane breeding / raising / training / health of dogs, not to "exclude cats."

Agree with what others have said. Freemasonry is a fraternity. It is a brotherhood. It doesn't "exclude women" in order to be unfair to them, discriminate against them, etc.; rather, its essence is to be a men's organization. To put it another way: the purpose of the American Kennel Club is to promote the proper and humane breeding / raising / training / health of dogs, not to "exclude cats."

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Not to be sexist or hypocritical, but I know that there exist organizations whose membership was limited to females for very legitimate historical reasons. Some women who have challenged me as to why women cannot be Masons still do not want men in their organizations...

Besides, the only "masonic" lodge that I knew of (because I went to a fund-raiser BBQ and almost joined) was co-ed, did not require a belief in Deity (they took their obligations on a blank book representing the conscience of the brother/sister) they worked in Spanish and were part on an irregular GL in South Texas

A little story. We recently buried our beloved JW in his 50's. At the funeral, I watched our WM openly weeping and a PM sitting beside him. Both are in their 50's. The PM sat there holding the WM's hand and comforting him. Not for a moment, but often through the ceremony. Half the men present would have been Brothers and we filled the back two rows. Where else in Western Society other than Freemasonry would it be seen as completely normal and acceptable (and approved) that two grown heterosexual men can sit publicly holding each others hands ? Such is the bond of fraternalism and such is the secure "authentic " character of these two men that the focus was mutual support rather than public (Masonically) profane opinion.

A Brother Asks: Is there any legitimate reason why women aren't allowed to be Freemasons, or does it just stem from the acting troupe rules of the 16th century?Coach: Before I respond to your question, let me point out the not so obvious.

Brother: Okay. Go ahead.Coach: Females are allowed to be Freemasons; just not “male” Freemasons. And the reason why they are not allowed to be “male” Freemasons is that they are not male.

Brother: Okay. Yes. I’ve heard of Co-Freemasonry, and women's lodges and the like. Coach: Okay, and you believe they are not Freemasonic?

Brother: I am talking about the rules governing all "regular" lodges.Coach: And these female Freemasons and their lodges are Regular my Brother.

Brother: They can’t be!Coach: I disagree. They sure can.

Brother: Okay, how so?Coach: Regularity is set by the governing Grand Lodge of a jurisdiction.

Brother: Okay...Coach: Since these Female centric Lodges are deemed Regular by their Female centric Grand Lodge, they are indeed Regular to it. They are simply not considered Regular to Male centric Freemasonry.
Brother: Well, yes. That's not what I meant.Coach: Then what did you mean?

Brother: I meant to say they're not Recognized Freemasons and Freemasonic Lodges.

Finalizing the Question

Coach: Yes. Thanks. They are not Recognized by Male centric Lodges. They are Recognized within their own network of lodges though. Brother: Okay, I'm trying to get to a point. I'm having a difficult time finding the right words.

Coach: Finding the right words is important.Brother: Agreed. What do you think I'm trying to ask?

Coach: Okay. Thanks. I believe you’ll find that every last response that you get from anyone trying to answer this question will be either made up or offered as an excuse. It won't be the obvious one that provides the underlying reason.Brother: What’s that obvious reason?

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